THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED La Nuova Cucina

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED La Nuova Cucina Restaurant Review:

This 50-seat gem is the first U.S. restaurant venture for Brazilian chef and restaurateur Paulo Baroni. Baroni’s grandparents emigrated from Italy to Sao Paulo, Brazil, when he was a child, and Baroni learned to cook Italian---but with a Brazilian twist. Tucked among the big-box restaurants along Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row, La Nuova Cucina is a welcome oasis from the noisy dining scene. A wall of exposed brick lends the narrow, intimate dining room warmth, while black-and-white photos of Italy evoke an authentic feel. The menu has a little bit of everything, and many dishes are classics with a hint of Brazilian spice. The silky pumpkin soup with seared shrimp, for instance, is warmed by a touch of curry, and fried arancini are served with a spiced tomato dipping sauce. There are plenty of pasta choices, including simple tagliolini bolognese, and a green lasagna with eggplant, zucchini, mascarpone and black olives. Meats range from a tender filet mignon to the generous lamb shank with mascarpone and zucchini risotto. Classic Italian fish and chicken dishes round out the menu. End the meal with the budino al cioccolato, a rich chocolate pudding, or the torta di limone, the chef’s tart take on classic Key lime pie.